COVID-19 (Coronavirus) and Carseats

Resources for Installation and Cleaning Help During the COVID-19 Pandemic

It’s safe to say no one expected the swiftness of the coronavirus spread nor the depth of the services that would be shut down due to the pandemic. In a matter of days, we’ve gone from being a carefree people to treating someone who has an innocent sneeze due to a tickle as if they have the plague. Since we know COVID-19 spreads very quickly and can be a very serious illness in certain populations, it’s good to hunker down into our family units, and your friendly neighborhood CPS techs are doing the same.

However, babies are still being born, children are still outgrowing their carseats, and parents and caregivers still need help installing and cleaning carseats for children.

Cleaning carseats

The very best general advice I can offer: read your owner’s manual for the carseat and read the tags on the carseat cover. Every carseat manufacturer is different regarding how they advise washing their covers, but they do generally want either hand-washing with mild detergent or machine washing on the gentle cycle with mild detergent. There is nothing different about cleaning a carseat now during the pandemic than before COVID-19 was on our radar. You should NOT wipe your carseat or harness straps with anti-bacterial wipes or use bleach on the seat since these may be caustic to the plastic or straps.

If your harness straps need to be cleaned, most manufacturers recommend wiping down with a damp cloth. If more cleaning is needed, fill a bowl with a drop or two of a gentle detergent like Dawn or Dreft and some water, dip the cloth in the bowl, squeeze the excess water out, and wipe the harness. Use a separate cloth dipped in plain water to rinse and wipe dry with a third cloth. Lay the harness flat if you can remove it. If not, keep it as flat as possible to avoid creases in it. Water will not ruin your straps—I think some people think the straps will melt if they get too wet—but a combination of water and stretching will.

Also, no baby wipes on the harness; it’s not in the manual. I’ve heard from many parents AND CPS techs who have used baby wipes on harness straps and think it’s OK, but if the manufacturers thought it was fine to do so, they would put it in the manual. Again, follow all manufacturer’s guidelines on cleaning your harness. But hey, if you’re on the road and all you have to clean the harness to keep the rest of the family in the van from barfing from the smell is baby wipes, by all means, use them. When you get to your destination, clean the harness as directed and contact the manufacturer for guidance.

But, the sun is your friend here! UV rays kill nasty things, including smells, so if you’re still concerned, set your seat in the sun. If it’s cloudy out, remember UV rays don’t care if it’s cloudy, they come on through. Just don’t forget the seat outside! I’ve heard lots of stories about carseats that got thoroughly rain-soaked and rusted. Oops!

Carseat Installation Help

Following is a list of videos and web pages that may help you accomplish your tasks.

LATCH Install Tricks: https://youtu.be/a7NjmLvyIZo

Chicco KeyFit Seat Belt Installation: https://youtu.be/Ut5t2safwXA

Chicco KeyFit LATCH Installation: https://youtu.be/4pNgmOgwLN8

How to Tighten a Harness: https://youtu.be/FpqWtuGf9Js

Is Your Carseat Installed Tightly Enough: https://youtu.be/EolFk9nDNKU

Rear-Facing Only Installation without Base Using Euro Belt Path (great for ridesharing or taxis): https://youtu.be/DvWW1T_MDHc

• Technique should work for shorter seat belts because you adjust the angle afterwards, or try these videos:
• Denise Donaldson, SafeRideNews https://youtu.be/7aWQ2qhQBQA
• The Car Seat Lady https://youtu.be/_OdYP3ca2OA

List of Manufacturers and Their Contact Info: https://www.saferidenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Child-Restraint-Manufacturers.pdf

• Most manufacturers have YouTube channels with installation videos and some have install videos on their websites. Some manufacturers also have live video install support you can schedule.